Battle of Kadugli

Last updated
Battle of Kadugli
Part of the 2023 Sudan conflict
Date8 June 2023 – present
(9 months and 20 days)
Location
Kaduqli, South Kordofan State, Sudan
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Insignia of the Sudanese Armed Forces.svg Sudanese Armed Forces Flag of SPLM-N.svg SPLM-N (al-Hilu faction)Emblem of the Rapid Support Forces.png Rapid Support Forces
Commanders and leaders
Jau Kafi [1]
Kafi Tayyar Al-Badeen [2] 		Flag of SPLM-N.svg Abdelaziz al-Hilu [3]
Flag of SPLM-N.svg Izzat Koko Angelo [2] 		Unknown
Units involved
14th Infantry Division [4]
54th Infantry Brigade [3]
Sudanese Air Force [3]
Al-Badeen's militia [2] 		Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown 300-400 killed (by September 2023) [1] Unknown
50,000+ displaced [5]

The Battle of Kadugli is an ongoing siege in Kaduqli, South Kordofan State, Sudan, during the 2023 Sudan conflict. It involves two unaligned rebel factions, the SPLM-N (al-Hilu faction) and the Rapid Support Forces, that are trying to capture the city from the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Contents

Background

Kaduqli is the capital of South Kordofan, a region which was affected by an insurgency of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N). The fighting was both a spillover of the previous Second Sudanese Civil War as well as ethnically motivated, as the local Nuba people have historically suffered under oppression by northern Sudanese regimes and accordingly supported the SPLM-N. In 2017, the SPLM-N split into two major factions. The rebels in South Kordofan aligned with Abdelaziz al-Hilu, an ethnic Nuba, who opposed compromises with the Sudanese government. Even after the Sudanese Revolution of 2019, al-Hilu opposed the agreements between other SPLM-N factions and the country's new leadership, stating that reforms were a prerequisite to peace. [3]

In 2020, five people were killed in the city by militiamen. [6] In 2023, tensions within the Sudanese government escalated into a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). [3] Most of the RSF troops in South Kordofan State retreated without a fight, however, allowing the SAF to occupy the former RSF camp in Kadugli. [7] The SAF soon also sent most of its local garrison troops to other, strategically more important war zones; only Kadugli remained a SAF stronghold due to the continued presence of the 14th Infantry Division under Jau Kafi. [1] Either way, the new civil war spurred fears among the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) that the ethnic conflicts of the previous insurgency could resurface, prompting it to mobilize and eventually take up arms against both SAF as well as RSF. [8]

Battle

By 8 June, the RSF had closed the road between Kadugli and El Obeid depriving the city of supplies. [9] At this point, fighting had spread to the smaller cities in neighboring Darfur. [10] Meanwhile, SPLKM-N (al-Hilu) forces converged on Kadugli, [3] while declaring its intention to rid the region of "the filth of occupation". [7] The local SAF garrison pushed back an RSF attack on one of its bases in the area, as the SPLM-N forces began besieging the city. [11]

On 21 June, the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) started an assault on the SAF's 54th Infantry Brigade around Kadugli. The military claimed that it had repelled the attack, while the Sudanese Air Force deployed MiGs and Sukhoi aircraft to bomb SPLM-N (al-Hilu) troops and bases around the city. Fighting also began at other towns in the region such as Dalang and al-Dibaybat. [3] On 15 July, both the SPLM-N (al-Hilu) and the RSF launched major attacks around South Kordofan including at Kadugli. However, the two factions do not seem to coordinate or be allied; instead, both exploit each other's operations against their common enemy, the SAF. [3] On 1 August 2023, protests began in Kadugli against the ongoing clashes in the city, with protesters also denouncing the war and the country's violations against women. [12] By mid-August, the SPLM-N had captured ten military bases around Kadugli and was repeatedly attacking the town itself. [13] The fighting for Kadugli disrupted the regional supply chains, causing food shortages. In addition, the SPLM-N attacks on Kadugli were not popular among its members due to substantial losses as well as a perceived lack of a grand strategy among the rebel leadership. [1]

By early September, 50,000 civilians had fled the area, as the SPLM-N continued it attempts to capture the city. [14] [5] However, combat in area suddenly ceased around this time. Journalists of Darfur24 subsequently revealed that SPLM-N members were meeting with officers of the 14th Infantry Division in and around Kadugli, [4] [15] attempting to mediate an end of combat. However, the talks failed and the battle resumed. [15] SPLM-N chief of staff Izzat Koko Angelo reportedly also sent a letter to Brigadier General Kafi Tayyar Al-Badeen, calling on him to defect. Al-Badeen led a South Kordofan militia in the area of Kadugli, fighting alongside the Sudanese Army. The commander publicly declared his loyalty to the military, stating that the letter was designed to sow discord. [2]

On 27 September, the SPLM-N began a new attack on Kadugli, invading the city's Jabal Hajar al-Mak Rahal and Daraja Altalta neighbourhoods while launching artillery strikes using Katyusha rocket launchers. The assault was repelled by the local garrison, [2] but the rebels attacked again on the next day, this time targeting the Jabal Hajar al-Mak Rahal and Talo neighbourhoods. [15] In October, fighting between the SAF and SPLM-N continued between Kadugli and Dalang, concentrated at the villages of al-Takama, El Faragil, and Karkaria. Clashes also took place at Damba, west of Kadugli. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice and Equality Movement</span> Sudanese opposition group

The Justice and Equality Movement is an opposition group in Sudan founded by Khalil Ibrahim. Gibril Ibrahim has led the group since January 2012 after the death of Khalil, his brother, in December 2011. The JEM supported the removal of President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir and nation-wide government reform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudan Liberation Movement/Army</span> Darfuri rebel group

The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army is a Sudanese rebel group active in Darfur, Sudan. It was founded as the Darfur Liberation Front by members of three indigenous ethnic groups in Darfur: the Fur, the Zaghawa, and the Masalit, among whom were the leaders Abdul Wahid al-Nur of the Fur and Minni Minnawi of the Zaghawa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North</span> Political party and militant organisation in Sudan

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North, or SPLM–N, is a political party and militant organisation in the Republic of Sudan, based in the states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. The group's armed forces are formally known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army–North or SPLA–N. As of 2017, its two factions, SPLM-N (Agar) and SPLM-N (al-Hilu) were engaged in fighting each other and against the government of Sudan, and as of 2023, the al-Hilu faction is fighting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), while the leader of the Agar faction was appointed into the military-run government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile</span> 2011–2020 insurgency in southern Sudan

The Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile was an armed conflict in the Sudanese states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N), a northern affiliate of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in South Sudan. After some years of relative calm following the 2005 agreement which ended the second Sudanese civil war between the Sudanese government and SPLM rebels, fighting broke out again in the lead-up to South Sudan independence on 9 July 2011, starting in South Kordofan on 5 June and spreading to the neighboring Blue Nile state in September. SPLM-N, splitting from newly independent SPLM, took up arms against the inclusion of the two southern states in Sudan with no popular consultation and against the lack of democratic elections. The conflict is intertwined with the War in Darfur, since in November 2011 SPLM-N established a loose alliance with Darfuri rebels, called Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF).

Abdelaziz Adam al-Hilu is a Sudanese politician and the current chairperson of the Sudan People's Liberation Army – SPLA–North.

Dalang or Dilling is a town in South Kordofan State in Sudan, north of the state capital Kadugli. As of 2008 it had a population 59,089 people. In printed sources and internet sources, including maps and atlases, the town's name is usually spelled as Dilling, reflecting the local pronunciation [ˈdɪlɪŋ]. The spellings Dalang and Dalanj reflect a pronunciation adapted to the phonotactics of Arabic.

The Sudanese peace process consists of meetings, written agreements and actions that aim to resolve the War in Darfur, the Sudanese conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and armed conflicts in central, northern and eastern Sudan.

The following lists events during 2023 in the Republic of the Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War in Sudan (2023–present)</span> Ongoing military conflict in Sudan

A civil war between two rival factions of the military government of Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under Hemedti, began during Ramadan on 15 April 2023. Fighting has been concentrated around the capital city of Khartoum and the Darfur region. As of 21 January 2024, at least 13,000–15,000 people had been killed and 33,000 others were injured. As of 21 March, over 6.5 million were internally displaced and more than two million others had fled the country as refugees, and many civilians in Darfur have been reported dead as part of the 2023 Masalit massacres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Khartoum (2023–present)</span> Battle during the 2023 Sudan conflict

The battle of Khartoum is an ongoing battle for control of Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan, with fighting in and around the city between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The battle began on 15 April 2023, after the RSF captured Khartoum International Airport, several military bases, and the presidential palace, starting an escalating series of clashes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudanese refugee crisis (2023–present)</span> Ongoing refugee crisis caused by the 2023 Sudan conflict

An ongoing refugee crisis began in Africa in mid-April 2023 after the outbreak of the 2023 Sudan conflict. By December, more than 1.5 million people have fled the country, while more than 5.6 million had been internally displaced. These included at least 75,000 migrant returnees and other third-country nationals.

The following is a timeline of the War in Sudan (2023-present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of El Fasher</span> Battle during the 2023 Sudan conflict

The Battle of El Fasher is an ongoing battle for control of the town of El Fasher in North Darfur during the 2023 Sudan conflict. The first battle for the city took place between April 15 and April 20, and resulted in a ceasefire that held until May 12. Clashes broke out again between May 12 and 29, and ended with a more stable ceasefire that lasted until August. By September, the city had become a haven for refugees across the region, and was also suffering from food and water shortages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of El Obeid</span> Siege in the 2023 Sudan conflict

The siege of El Obeid was a siege in El-Obeid, North Kordofan, Sudan, during the 2023 Sudan conflict. The battle began on April 15, and saw the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) capture the El Obeid airport from the Sudanese Army contingent in the city. Throughout April and May, the Sudanese Army repelled several RSF assaults on the city, although by May 30, the RSF fully surrounded the city and laid siege to it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War crimes during the War in Sudan (2023–present)</span> Violations of the laws of war during the War in Sudan (2023–present)

The war in Sudan, which started on 15 April 2023, has seen a widespread of war crimes committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with the RSF being singled out by the Human Rights Watch, and the United Kingdom and United States governments for committing crimes against humanity. The conflict was marked by heavy indiscriminate shelling, gunfire, and airstrikes on markets and populated residential neighbourhoods, causing a high number of fatalities. Hospitals were targeted during aerial bombings and artillery fire, and medical supplies were looted. These attacks severely impacted Sudan’s healthcare system, disrupting medical services and leaving the majority of the hospitals in conflict-affected states out of service. The UN declared Sudan the most dangerous country for humanitarian workers after South Sudan.

The following lists events during 2024 in the Republic of the Sudan.

Dibebad (Arabic: ديبيباد), or Debibad, is a town in South Kordofan, Sudan. It is located 56 kilometres (35 mi) north of Dalang. It has been a site of conflict, with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) involved in heavy fighting. On 8 January 2024, SAF warplanes attacked RSF positions in Dibebad.

Karkaraya, or Karkaria, is a town in South Kordofan, Sudan, that is 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Kadugli, the state capital.

Um Heitan, or Umm Heitan, is a village in Dalami, South Kordofan, Sudan, that is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from south of Kadugli, the state capital. The area is an active war zone.

El Tagola, or Al-Takula, is a village in South Kordofan, Sudan. It's known for its gold mines that used toxic cyanide for extraction. There have been reports of protests and conflicts in the area related to the mining activities.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Small Arms Survey 2024, p. 4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sudanese army repels SPLM-N's fresh attack on Kadugli". Sudan Tribune. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 McGregor 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Sudanese military commanders meet with SPLM's Alhilu officers in Kadugli". Darfur24. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 Small Arms Survey 2024, p. 6.
  6. ↑ Dabanga (2020-05-15). "Sudan: Five killed in attack on Kadugli neighbourhood". Dabanga Radio TV Online. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  7. 1 2 Small Arms Survey 2024, p. 3.
  8. ↑ Small Arms Survey 2024, pp. 2–3.
  9. ↑ "Rebel mobilisation in southern Sudan raises fears of conflict spreading". Reuters. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  10. ↑ Eltahir, Nafisa; Abdelaziz, Khalid; Eltahir, Nafisa (2023-06-15). "Sudan war hits two-month mark as peace efforts hit hurdles". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  11. ↑ "Sudan's western cities under fire as war spreads". Reuters. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  12. ↑ Camille (2023-07-31). "Marches as SPLM-N El Hilu and army clash in South Kordofan". Dabanga Radio TV Online. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  13. ↑ Zeinab Mohammed Salih (20 August 2023). "Thousands flee homes after rebel attack in southern Sudan city". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "More than 50,000 displaced as families run out of food supplies in Kadugli: agency". Sudan Tribune. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 "Clashes continue in Kadugli between the army and SPLM's Al-Hilu". Darfur24. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "Sudan: RSF Expands Territorial Control as Ceasefire Talks Resume in Jeddah". ACLED. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.